Waterproof telegraph key



Feb. 18, 1941. JUNKEN 2,232,535

WATERPROOF TELEGRAPH KEY Filed July 23, 1940 Inventor: Lawrence H. Junken,

H i s Atfcorney.

Patented F eb. 18, 1941 PATENT OFFICE WATERPROOF TELEGRAPH KEY Lawrence H. Junken, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York AppllcationJuly 23, 1940, Serial No. 346,909

3 Claims.

My invention relates to telegraph key assemblies and more particularly to such assemblies for use in areas where they are exposed to moisture, rain, etc., as for example, in lifeboats, and the like.

It has for one of its objects to provide a housing adapted to protect such assemblies from moisture without unduly encumbering, or hinder-- ing, the manipulation of the key and its various 0 adjustment devices.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, together with the further ob- Iects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of the housing of my invention, Fig. 2 repreo sents a sidewise view partially in section, Fig. 3 a top view and Fig. 4 a bottom perspective view of the housing.

Referring to Fig. 1 oi the drawing, I have shown therein the housing which may preferably be of flexible rubber construction formed in the general shape of a telegraph key. It comprises the large comparatively bulbous center portion I having a constricted neck 2 with enlarged end 3 adapted to receive the knob of the telegraph key. It is also provided with sidewise projecting protuberances 4 arranged to fit over the bearing ad- .iustment screws of the key, together with a backwardly extending tubular portion 5 through which electrical connections to the key may be made.

The bottom construction of this housing is better shown in Fig. 4, in which it is seen that the bottom of the portion I of the key housing is provided with an aperture 8 through which the key may be inserted into the housing. The housing being of flexible rubber permits the aperture 8 to be stretched to such an extent that the key, assembled in its bearings on a baseplate, etc., may be inserted therein. It is also provided with a number of protuberances I which, during the assembly of the apparatus, may be cut oil to leave apertures through which screws may be received for the clamping of an external plate thereby to close the aperture 6.

The assembled key and housing is shown in Fig. 2. The key comprises a member 8 pivoted for rotation about an axis 9 in supporting hearing members I2. It has a knob Ill mounted upon one end thereof which projects through the neck 2 of the housing into the bulbous end portion a of the housing which encloses the knob. The base plate I I of the key may have the form of a ring, as is usual in such assemblies, having on opposite sides' thereof the upwardly projecting bearing members I2 between which the telegraph key is 5 mounted. Each of these bearing members is provided with an adjusting screw I3 to permit the adjustment of the bearings.

The electrical contacts controlled by the key are indicated at I4 and I5, one being mounted on 10 the member 8 and the other being mounted on, but insulated from, the base plate II. ,The key is biased by means of a spring I8 to retain the contacts separated whereby they may be closed by pressure applied to the knob Ill. The tension of the spring I6 may be adjusted by means of a screw I! provided with a lock nut I8.

The adjusting screws I3, which also may be provided with lock nuts, project into the protuberances 4, these protuberances being justlarge enough to iit rather closely over the adjusting screws and their lock'nuts, the material of the housing being sufiiciently flexible to permit ready adjustment of these screws and nuts.

No protuberance is provided to fit over the 25 screw I1 and its lock nut I8, but since these ad justing members are in the upper portion of the rather bulbous portion I of the housing, the bulbous character of the housing itself is suflicient to permit adequate flexibility so that these mem- 30 bers may be readily adjusted by the operator through the housing.

Plate I 9 may be attached to the base plate I I by means of screws 20 projecting through openings in the housing left by cutting off the protuber- 35 ances 'I of Fig. 4.

Preferably kraft paper washers 20' are provided between the heads of these screws 20 and the mounting plate I9 and cemented thereto by any suitable waterproof cement. If desired the threads of the screws are also similarly cemented. In this way thebottom portion of the housing around aperture 6 may be clamped between plate I9 and the base member II, the plate I9 thereby closing the aperture and preventing the entry of 45 moisture into the interior of the housing.

Fig. 3 shows a top view of the housing and indicates the positions of the various screws 20 by which the housing is clamped to the base memr ber. It also shows a clamp 2| with screws 22 projecting through the plate I9 whereby the clamp members 2| may be caused to'compress the tubular portion 5 about the preferably rubber insulated conductors which extend therethrough thereby to prevent the entry of moisture or water 55 through the protuberances into the housing. Conductors 23 and 24, which enter the housing through this protuberance, are shown attached to binding posts 25 and 2, one of which may be electrically connected to the key I through the base plate H and bearing members I2, and the other may be connected to contact I! mounted on, but insulated from, the base plate Ii by insulation means l6.

As thus constructed and assembled, it will be seen that this housing offers complete protection to the telegraph key from moisture, rain or salt water, as in lifeboat service, so that the key and its contacts are always dry and the insulation thereof is maintained. At the same time, due to the flexibility of the housing and the conformance of its shape to the key, it does not encumber the key, or the manipulation thereof, by the telegraph operator. Neither does it seriously impair or encumber the manipulation of the adjustment screws i3 and I! or the lock nuts provided therefor. Also, while by reason of its flexibility and form it offers these advantages, at the same time the device has and retains a definite shape from which it is distorted through purposeful manipulation of the key or its adjustment devices. Thus, the key may be readily handled, manipulated and adjusted in the presence of the worst condition of moisture, or even under water, without any serious impairment by reason of its protective housing.

While I have shown the particular form of my invention, it will, of course, be understood that many modifications may be made therein and that I contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In combination, a telegraph key comprising a longitudinal member, adjustable bearings therefor supporting said key, said key being mounted on said bearings for rotation about an axis at right angles to said member. and a flexible nousing for said key and bearings, said flexible housing having a form conforming generally to the shape of said key and bearings and being sumciently flexible to permit ready manipulation of said key and adjustment of said bearings through said housing.

2. In combination, a telegraph key assembly comprising a base member having opposite upwardly projecting bearings, and a longitudinal key member extending between said bearings and arranged for rotation about an axis extending between said member in a plane at right angles to said axis, adjusting screws on said bearing members, a flexible housing having an aperture for insertion of said key assembly into said housing, means to clamp said housing to said base member and to close said aperture, said housing having a shape conforming generally to the shape of said key and bearings to permit manipulation of said key and adjustment of said bearings.

3. In combination, a telegraph key assembly comprising a base member having opposite upwardly projecting bearings, and a longitudinal key member extending between said bearings and arranged for rotation about an axis extending between said member in a plane at right angles to said axis, adjusting screws on said bearing members, a flexible housing having an aperture for insertion of said key assembly into said housing, means to clamp said housing to said base member and to close said aperture, said housing having a shape conforming generally to the shape of said key and having protuberances fitting over said adjusting screws to permit manipulation of said key and adjusting screws through said flexible housing.

LAWRENCE H. JUNKEN. 

